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The UK announced new sanctions yesterday relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,

targeting seven oligarchs with links to Vladimir Putin. Among them is Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch who grew wealthy following the collapse of the Soviet Union in Russia's controversial loans for shares privatization program.

Abramovich was a confidant of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and is reported to have been the first

person to recommend to Yelsohn that former KGB agent and taxi driver Vladimir Putin be his

successor as the Russian president. When Putin formed his first cabinet in 1999, Abramovich allegedly interviewed each of the candidates

for cabinet positions before they were approved.

This is the first time any Western government has targeted Abramovich.

His trophy assets including Chelsea Football Club, expensive homes in London and mega yachts

have helped turn him into one of the

highest profile Russian oligarchs who are now facing additional scrutiny from officials

in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich has denied being close to Putin and says he has done nothing to deserve being sanctioned,

but the UK alleges that

he's closely involved with several Russian individuals and entities that have played a role

in destabilizing and undermining Ukraine. And they say that he benefited financially from

that involvement. Abramovich announced earlier this month that he was transferring stewardship and care of the club

to the trustees of its charitable foundation, later announcing that he would sell the club

and put the proceeds into a charity that would benefit all victims of the war in Ukraine.

These new sanctions bring an end to that plan as they effectively freeze his assets

and prohibit him from any transactions with UK individuals and businesses.

The government officials acknowledged that this would impact the soccer community, saying

...